The upholding of the individual mandate within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by the Supreme Court drew a response from several industry groups, including the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

With some 3,000 stores now under its banner coast to coast and official designation by JD Power & Associates as the nation’s favorite pharmacy service provider, Health Mart has achieved a remarkable growth record in the eight years since McKesson launched a top-to-bottom overhaul of the Health Mart brand and marketing strategy. Now, the nation’s top name in independent franchised pharmacy is stepping up to a new level of customer care, operating performance, marketing sophistication and technological prowess.

In many ways, the future of community pharmacy relies on evolving the role of the pharmacist to drive better patient adherence, improve health outcomes and perhaps most importantly, from a business perspective, to get paid for it. To help independent pharmacy owners and community pharmacists step closer to that future today, McKesson, the largest healthcare services company in the country, showcased Tuesday its Sponsored Clinical Services Network to hundreds of attendees here at McKesson ideaShare 2012.

McKesson, one of the largest healthcare services companies in the country, on Monday extended its technology solutions to change the way community pharmacies collaborate, communicate and share information with customers and peers.

Day one here at McKesson ideaShare 2012 and the thousands of independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners from all across the country who convened here Monday, at the Las Vegas’ Venetian Resort, looking for business-building solutions and industry to help them stay relevant and differentiate themselves with their customers and patients, were not disappointed.

Three successful pharmacy innovators helped set a buoyant tone for the official kickoff of McKesson’s ideaShare 2012 conference here, as they shared success stories from their own community practice settings at a panel discussion hosted by Brian Tyler, president of McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical.

Drug Store News recently talked with COPD Foundation founder and president John Walsh about the organization’s new leadership. In March, the COPD Foundation took over leadership for Drive4COPD, which aims to screen people for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a collective term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which the group estimates to affect 24 million Americans who may have it but don’t know it.

Retailers are awakening to the possibility that their sleep aids — typically merchandised near the floor level of a set synergistically near tablet pain relievers — may deserve a placement closer to eye level.

Sometimes even I am surprised by who is reading us. Last month, nearly 120,000 unique visitors came to DrugStoreNews.com. One of them was president of the American Academy of Family Physicians Glen Stream.

There is still time to register for McKesson ideaShare 2012 Conference, which is slated for June 24 to 28, at Las Vegas’ Venetian Resort Hotel. McKesson, the nation’s largest healthcare services company, expects thousands of independent pharmacy owners from across the nation will convene at ideaShare.

GroundFloor Media, a Denver-based, integrated agency focusing on strategic communications, social media, reputation and crisis management, and digital strategy, on Thursday announced Similasan USA as the newest addition to its client roster.

With overwhelming support in both the U.S. House and Senate and the strong backing of President Obama, a reauthorization of the landmark Prescription Drug User Fee Act that funds new drug application reviews at the Food and Drug Administration is a near certainty, probably within days or weeks at most. But one amendment to the Senate's version of PDUFA reauthorization, contained in the Food and Drug Administration Safety Innovation Act, could threaten both retail pharmacies and the patients they serve.

SPECIAL REPORTS

It’s done. A hearing aid category specific to the over-the-counter arena was signed into law in August; all that remains to be created is the regulatory framework. Read more in this special report. Read more...

IN THIS ISSUE

Drug Store News shares exclusive highlights from the CVS Health Leadership Summit about the company’s efforts to speed up healthcare innovation; highlights the sleep and homeopathy categories’ continued growth; showcases the growing role of pharmacy technology; and more! Read more...